Short Courses and Workshops
Available to alumnae, current participants, and those exploring executive education. A mix of paid and free opportunities, scholarships are available if needed. Please email ironsharpeningiron@ptsem.edu for details.
Finance for Leaders (Oct. 21-24, 2025)
Many clergy step into leadership with a deep sense of calling—but little training in the financial skills their roles demand. Finance for Leaders is a four-day intensive designed to fill that gap, equipping pastors with the confidence and tools to lead fiscal conversations with clarity and purpose. Through plenary sessions on budgeting and fundraising, along with a customizable workshop day, participants will gain practical insight into managing church finances. While seminary may only briefly touch on these topics, financial leadership is essential to sustaining ministry and stewarding mission effectively.
Layered into the Iron Sharpening Iron fall curricular gathering, participants in the intensive will have the opportunity to share in networking and worship with women from the Executive Leadership Certificate Program. The ISI model draws on expertise from the church and beyond, curating a conversation that puts the role of pastor on par with executives from a wide array of professional sectors.
Cost: $2499
Lay Leader Workshops (Ongoing)
Building leadership capacity among lay leaders is essential for the long-term health and sustainability of both the congregation and its pastoral staff. By intentionally building a bench of trusted leaders, churches create a deeper pool of support, insight, and energy to carry forward important initiatives. Developing common language and shared frameworks fosters clarity and unity, allowing lay leaders and clergy to collaborate more effectively. This shared leadership model not only distributes responsibility but also helps prevent burnout among pastors by ensuring the work of ministry is shared and sustained across the whole body. Ultimately, it cultivates a resilient, mission-driven community that can thrive together.
Cost: Varies based on group size, modality, and time frame
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The Future of Church Property: Evolving with Integrity ($79.99)
Anchored by plenary addressed from Lindsay Baker, CEO of the International Future Living Institute, this set of recordings covers the following topics:
- The Why Behind the Property Conversation: Theology, Ethics, and Imagination
- For Churches Curious About Affordable Housing
- A Strategic Approach to Buildings and Deferred Maintenance
- The Role of Social Enterprise in Imagining Future Use
- Financing the Clean Energy Transition
Creating Healthy Boundaries: Living in Liminal Spaces, Part I
Navigating Transitions with Integrity: Living in Liminal Spaces, Part 2
Panel discussions will feature Rev. Pam Driesell, Rev. Julie Pennington-Russell, and Rev. Melanie Marsh, addressing some of the deepest questions women bring to us each year.
Webinars
These offerings build on Iron Sharpening Iron’s core curriculum, creating content that speaks directly to the expressed needs of our current participants.
Building a Better Community: Exclusive Webinar with She Should Run (Wednesday June 11, 2025 from 12-1 pm ET)
The voice of pastoral leaders has never been more important. Join us for this webinar, where pastors will begin to build tangible plans to swing into civic action–including reflecting on the communities they already belong to, how they would like to influence change, and issues that are important to them. Webinar attendees will leave with increased confidence, clarity on their personal brand and leadership qualifications, and a changed mindset about entering politics.
Cost: $49
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Neurodivergence in Ministry Teams
Faith Saenz, founder of NeuroTalent Consulting, speaks with pastors about the leading as a neurodivergent person, supporting neurodivergent staff members, and building a team that can flourish.
Impact Measurement for Ministry: Distilling the Data that Matters
How does anyone accurately measure spiritual growth or the health of a community? Thais Carter, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Associate Director for Iron Sharpening Iron will offer a presentation to help answer that question and get at how we might measure what seems unmeasurable!
Managing Volunteers: Secrets to Supervising People Who Aren’t on the Payroll
Led by Luisa Boyarksi, Associate Director of Georgetown University’s Center for Public & Nonprofit Leadership, this webinar offers practical advice for motivating, organizing, and retaining volunteers.
Implementing the Bold Vision: Elected Officials on the Transition from Campaign to Governance
For the first time in its history, the city of St. Paul is represented by all women and majority people of color. Join Councilmembers Rebecca Noecker and Cheniqua Johnson to discuss how we move from designing a leadership vision (campaigning) to implementation (governing), and managing the bureaucracies and stakeholders along the way.
Coaching Skills for Leaders: Tips for Empathic, Effective Supervision
You may know a lot about pastoral care, but how does (or should) that differ from supervising staff? This webinar, led by Anita Kishore, is designed as an entry point into how the coaching model can lead to smarter, more successful supervision.
